ISSUE 37
SPRING 2021
T H E N E W L E T T E R F O R C U S TO M E R S O F T H E S C O T T G R O U P
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
TAKING THE HEAT OFF PALLET RECOVERY
It’s great news for our pallet recovery service that we’ve secured an exemption to use pre-heat treated timbers, supplied from our registered ISPM15 compliant sawmills, for repairs to the pallets we recover – saving time and cost for our customers. Due to Brexit, many pallet users have had to start using or increasing their ISPM15 compliant pallets. Indeed, several companies have already changed to 100% ISPM15 pallets, even though many are not intended for transit through Europe. Largely, this is due to lack of space for segregation, fear of the wrong pallets being used to ship products globally, and the consequential risk and issue of load rejection. As a result, we are seeing an increase in the number of ISPM15 compliant pallets being recovered for reuse rather than recycled, (for example, chipped for animal bedding, manufacture of chipboard or for energy via biomass) before reaching their predicted end of lifecycle. Cathy Morio, Senior Sales Manager – Recovery, said: “This is fantastic news for our pallet recovery customers, and we are already receiving their positive feedback. Not only does this exemption help us to reduce costs for customers, but it speeds up the process of returning certified repaired pallets back to customers for reuse.” The approved Forestry Commission auditor said: “The pallet recovery site at Burton is really impressive. The environmental benefits of the work being done here are extraordinary and should be highlighted as an example of what can be achieved by reusing wooden pallets.” Back in December 2020, Scott Pallets’ Bathgate site was also the first in the UK to secure approval to carry out repairs to EPAL licensed Euro pallets using pre heat-treated components. If you need technical advice and support on the requirements for pallets destined for the EU, please visit www.scottgroupltd. com/contact/locations/ to find your local Scott Pallets adviser.
As of 1st January 2021, it has been a legal requirement for all wood packaging material moving in both directions between UK and the EU to be compliant with the treatment measures and marked as specified in the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures No. 15 (ISPM15). There are serious consequences if EU suppliers do not use ISPM15 pallets for shipping goods, and these include fixed and variable monetary penalties ranging from £250 to £250,000. Full details can be found here: www.legislation.gov.uk/ uksi/2020/1089/introduction/made
Together, we deliver more. Together, it all comes together.
SCOTT GROUP || PLATFORM 2
ISSUE 37
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
USE YOUR HEAD FOR HARD HAT RECYCLING
Scott Direct has joined the National Hard Hat Recycling Scheme to ensure all of the plastic from end-of-life hard hats is fully recovered and recycled back into new plastic pellets.
This simple membership scheme encourages businesses to send hard hats directly to a dedicated recycling facility where they are destroyed, recycled and the pellets are then sent back into UK manufacturing as a raw material. In this way, all hard hats are fully recycled right here in the UK. Every year, the UK throws away several million hard hats, which usually end up in general waste. The chances of them being recycled back into new plastics is slim. The National Hard Hat Recycling Scheme aims to change that by diverting hard hats into a dedicated waste processing facility, thereby ensuring all hat waste is fully recycled. Omer Kutluoglu, Director at Yes Recycling, said: “Whether it’s just one or two hats popped into a cardboard box and sent from a local post office, or a full lorry load of hats that have been consolidated from sites nationally, members can rest assured that their waste plastic materials are being fully recovered, responsibly, and won’t be ending up being dumped, whether home or overseas, to be left as an environmental hazard.” We will be returning all end-of-life hard hats from throughout our business as well as any out-of-date stock. Not only that, our customers can also send their hard hats directly to YES for recycling as part of our membership. www.yesrecycling.org/hard-hat-recycling
HOW IT WORKS At Yes Recycling, all hats are completely destroyed by being shred down into 10mm flakes. These flakes are then separated into their constituent polymer elements, washed, dried and then melted down and filtered. The pure molten polymer is then made back into brand new polymer pellets, which are the universal raw material format for all plastic item manufacturing.
Biomass boosts environmental credentials Having invested significantly in six biomass boilers for our sites in Aberdeen, Burntisland, Grimsby, Needham (x2) and Peterborough, it’s rewarding to see the environmental benefits year on year. Fuelling the kilns and site heating systems, these biomass boilers performed better than ever during 2020 and consumed 4,500 tonnes of wood waste saving 1.5 million litres of diesel oil, and ultimately generating more than 15 kWh of energy which is equivalent to powering 7,500 homes for a year! Dean Mason, Project Manager at Scott Pallets, said: “It’s staggering to see the positive results of our resource efficiency strategy. Sustainability is integral to our business and by recycling our internal waste at our facilities, we not only avoid generating landfill, but we minimise the environmental impact of our products, and transform this waste into a new useful resource that powers our kilns and ensures our customers have a secure supply of heat-treated pallets.” As demand for kiln-dried ISPM15 certified pallets has surged, as a direct result of Brexit, powering our kilns in an environmentally-friendly way is high on our agenda right now, and we are further increasing our already significant kiln capacity across the business as well as expanding the use of biomass renewable energy.
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TEXT SERVICE DRIVES UP PALLET COLLECTIONS Our recovery business has launched an SMS text service to improve communication with building sites. The idea was first introduced to Barratt Homes at the start of the year as a practical way of quickly reaching out to as many sites as possible to find out if they are ready for a pallet collection. The scheme will be rolled out to more customers soon, and we plan use this new channel to communicate other messages such as health and safety tips and environmental updates.
Together, we deliver more.
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
ISSUE 37
SCOTT DIRECT SECURES ISO 14001 Seahawk spreads
its wings
Scott Direct has successfully achieved ISO 14001 certification – the international standard for designing and implementing an environmental management system. Rob Sayles, Managing Director at Scott Direct, commented: “As part of our strategy for continuous improvement, securing ISO 14001 certification is critical, and provides assurance to our employees, customers and other external stakeholders, that we are closely monitoring the environmental impact of our activities, and actively making on-going improvements.” Graham Walker, Regional Assessor, said: “This audit has involved a review of system administration activities, a review and sample of site activities and walkover at Scott Direct, as well as a review of related records.
It’s been an exciting time for our protective workwear and safety clothing specialist, Seahawk. Aside from being one of the first to market with a reusable barrier mask, manufacturing more than 400,000 here in the UK, we have busy making plans to expand our PPE product offering and bring to market a new range of promotional merchandise. We have launched a new promotional merchandise website here: www.seahawk.sourceitonline.co.uk
“The organisation’s context is well-defined; leadership has been effectively demonstrated and commitment levels are evident as part of a mature IMS (integrated management system). Evidence was clearly available to demonstrate that the key policy commitments are being adhered to. “There is good availability of documented information to demonstrate that the system is well implemented and well understood throughout the organisation.” Marie Spaven, Service Manager at Scott Direct, added: “It’s great to see our team embrace the ISO 14001 certification process and enthusiastically support the on-going delivery of our environmental strategy on a day-to-day basis.” Scott Direct is committed to ensuring that employees play as full a part as possible in operating appropriate environmental controls and preventing pollution to the environment by eliminating and reducing waste, by introducing appropriate control measures and embracing a sustainable approach to environmental management whenever possible.
To support Seahawk’s expansion, we’ve hired an experienced business development manager, Steven Mitchell, to work directly with customers, providing product advice and guidance. And look out for our new Seahawk van on the roads... We’ll soon be delivering workwear, PPE and promotional products right to your door across Fife!
In line with the ISO 14001 certification, Scott Direct will continue to carry out reviews and continual improvement of its environmental management system.
“It’s great to see our team embrace the ISO 14001 certification process and enthusiastically support the on-going delivery of our environmental strategy on a day-to-day basis.”
Together, we deliver more.
SCOTT GROUP || PLATFORM 3
SERVING LOCAL INDUSTRY NATIONWIDE
ISSUE 37
PROTECTING OUR WORKFORCE Without a doubt, the pandemic has tested our robustness, and we have been really proud of the response from our people throughout the UK.
restricting the movement of staff and reducing travel by embracing digital communication and supporting colleagues to set-up their home offices.
Very early on, we created a COVID management protocol that included creating a dedicated committee of employees to help guide us through and tapping into our professional networks to ensure we were maintaining best practice in a rapidly evolving environment. A number of measures were introduced across all of our sites, including one-way systems and changing shift patterns to accommodate social distancing, deep cleaning sites three times a day, sanitising equipment,
John Ballinger, Compliance Director at Scott Pallets, said: “Our number one goal has been to protect our workforce. Whilst we have introduced significant changes, our colleagues have adapted well and embraced the changes, maintaining a high level of efficiency and customer satisfaction throughout.” As lockdowns are starting to lift, we are working on a cautious pathway to ‘normal’ to ensure our business is on a safe route out of the pandemic.
Getting to know Robert Blaikie
We have up to six COVID marshals on each of our pallet sites
To locate your nearest Scott Group supplier please visit:
scottgroupltd.com
JOB TITLE: SALES DIRECTOR – SCOTT PALLETS, MANUFACTURING TIME WITH THE BUSINESS Four years.
MAIN AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY
Leading the account management team to deliver the high standards our customers require of us; whilst also directing our growth strategy into those sectors where the solutions we provide offer real value. The industry-wide challenges with limited timber availability and rising timber costs has been well-documented, however, we continue to enjoy the strongest supply arrangements with all UK and Irish sawmills, which, supported by our Latvian supply arrangements, will ensure we maintain the stocks required to safeguard continuity of supply for our customers.
BACKGROUND EXPERIENCE
Mainly in pallets, with both CHEP and RM2; in between, I led the sales teams at ATS Michelin and Speedy Hire.
HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
A return to some sort of normality, both personally and professionally. We’re planning to bring some fantastic new initiatives to market during the coming months, and my hope is that we’ll be able to do that face to face in a safe environment.
FAVOURITE PART OF THE JOB
Genuinely, the people I work with every day. They are what set us apart, and the commitment to customer service shown by all of the teams across the business is the best I’ve seen. And, as positive challenges to current norms are welcomed and encouraged, the business continues to develop and improve directly through its people. 4 PLATFORM || SCOTT GROUP
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SCOTT GROUP INVESTMENTS LTD, HALBEATH INTERCHANGE BUSINESS PARK, KINGSEAT ROAD, HALBEATH, DUNFERMLINE, FIFE KY11 8RY T: 01383 627 100 F:01383 627 101
Together, we deliver more.